Croatia v Scotland LIVE: Nations League result and final score as Scots suffer more late heartbreak
Croatia 2-1 Scotland: After late defeats to Poland and Portugal, Che Adams saw a 95th minute equaliser ruled out by VAR
Scotland’s winless run grew to nine games as Steve Clarke’s side fell to defeat to Croatia in Zagreb after Che Adams saw a last-minute equaliser ruled out by VAR.
The visitors thought they had secured their first Nations League point of the campaign after Adams helped scramble in an equaliser in the 95th minute, but the substitute was offside by a fraction.
After late defeats to Poland and Portugal, it means Andrej Kramaric’s winner leaves Scotland without a point in the Nations League ahead of the visit of Portugal on Tuesday.
Without up to 12 players due to injury, Scotland struck first as Ryan Christie capitalised on a mistake in the Croatia defence to fire his first competitive goal in two years.
But Scotland were pegged back almost immediately when Igor Matanovic fired a first-time finish past goalkeeper Craig Gordon, recalled by Clarke at the age of 41.
Croatia then took the lead in an open game, as an unmarked Kramaric headed into the net after a save from Gordon.
Christie spurned a golden chance to equalise for Scotland on the breakaway and Adams went narrowly wide with a flick in stoppage time before the substitute saw his last-gasp effort ruled out.
FT: Croatia 2-1 Scotland
So Scotland come away from another Nations League match where they’ll feel like they deserved at least a point but left with none.
Steve Clarke’s side played well in parts, though they lacked the required quality in the final third and were guilty of falling asleep for the goals they conceded.
They have repeatedly shown that they can compete with Europe’s best, but they seem to just lack that final bit of luck/quality/composure.
So close yet so far once again.
FULL-TIME! Croatia 2-1 Scotland
FULL-TIME! Croatia 2-1 Scotland
FULL-TIME!
That’s the last action of the match as the referee blows the final whistle.
Scotland deserved at least a point there, but once again there’s late drama as they come away empty-handed.
DISALLOWED GOAL! Croatia 2-1 Scotland
97 mins
Heartbreak for Scotland as they are robbed of a point they so richly deserved.
Che Adams was indeed offside in the build-up.
GOAL! Croatia 2-2 Scotland
94 mins
GOAL!
Oh my word! Right at the last moment, Scotland level it!
The ball comes across to Robertson and he brings it down well. He tries to play it to McLean, who almost loses it on the edge of the box, but he back-heels it past the onrushing defenders and into the path of Che Adams.
In the confusion, the Croatia defenders try and get a foot to it and Jakic flies in, diverting it past Livakovic and into his own net!
Hang on though – there’s a VAR check.
Croatia 2-1 Scotland
93 mins
Not long left for Scotland to salvage anything here, but there’s time for one more attack...
Croatia 2-1 Scotland
92 mins
Brilliant play from McTominay as he powers past Modric, but he ends up firing an aimless ball into the box and it’s cleared easily.
Scotland come again, but Christie runs into trouble before Gilmour is booked for taking Baturina down on the counter.
Croatia 2-1 Scotland
90 mins
There’ll be four minutes of added time in Zagreb. Perisic has been replaced by defensive midfielder Kristijan Jakić.
Croatia 2-1 Scotland
89 mins
Christie does well to skip past a challenge before looping a high cross to the opposite wing, but the attack ends after a poor deep cross from McLean.
Moments later there’s brilliant play from the away side, as Gauld clips a lovely through ball into the path of Adams, who tries to square it across goal, but there’s nobody there to convert it.
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